Being a part of this internet world for a decade n more, I have made a lot of friends, made a new family for me online . While some relationships seem genuine , some just faded away in time, making me wonder, do people really value relationships in the online world or are they a convienient means for temparory ways of filling a void for many.
Brought to mind a guy I met online about 2 years ago …. I helped him with his Masters project on hospitality and adopted him as my kid brother. For 6 mnths he regularly called on the basis of the project and we had regular contact. I even spoke to his parents, met up with all of them and spent a day with them and was made to feel really a part of their family. Then after about a year and a half, this person totally disappeared… I mean I call, I get a voicemail, I even called on his birthday and left a message, I get an offliner saying thank you for your wishes didi will call you when I get some time. So now for about 8 months all of a sudden this person has disappeared and all this without any reason or disagreement.I still am in touch with his family because I did make a connection when I met them and spent time with them.
I have had some wonderful relationships I built online and I value them. Probably because for me any relationship, whether online or off it ,is important. I treat them both the same way , as a part of my life , but I have realised to most people these relationships they have online are very shallow. Probably since there is the disadvantange of physically not meeting the person and there is a certain anonymity in the whole thing,people tend to take these relationships lightly , one day you are a huge part of their lives and the next you are wondering where they are .
Like I mentioned , being a part of this world for a few years now, I have come across so many who are upset when their online relationships fizzle out as fast as they are formed. So many people broken hearted by these messed up shallow relationships and I have learnt a lot of things through these relationships . Never ever get closely involved with anyone only after a few days of knowing them.Most people do not even show their true selves and probably even fake the values they hold just so to get friendly with you. Most even forget you are a human being like them who can have feelings and hurt as well. Friendships that seem strong and loving, break on small issues . Apart from that many dont count you among people who can feel as them , so even though they may at times make you feel a part of their lives, forget about you soon enough.
I just wish each person respected relationships to be what they are.Blessings sent from above.So what if they are a part of the extended family you have , they should be dealt with and treated with as much care as relationships you have around you.If only one doesnt forget that each one is a fragile human being who has feelings like you do. Every relationship whether offline or online requires a lot of effort , patience, love and care. It has to be nurtured and when you do commit yourself to the relationship, be it as a brother, sister, friend or maybe a romantic interest, give it some effort to nurture it as you would a person you meet and know because though you maybe talking to a computer screen, the person on the other end is made up of flesh and blood, emotions and feelings just as you and deserves to be treated as a human being and not as a lifeless computer monitor.If you cannot make that effort then there is no point in even trying to make friends online is there? Or better still be upfront and honest about how you feel about online relationships so that the person on the other end doesn’t wind up getting hurt.
